No one, except perhaps the likes of Bill Gates or Mayor Bloomberg, has been spared the effects of the financial crisis.

Bay area seniors, most of them on fixed incomes, are likely the most worried.

But seniors who are dependent on government programs to help pay their essential bills, should not be overly anxious. No matter how many billions are given to bail out Wall Street companies, or whether John McCain or Barak Obama is our new president (this is being written before Election Day), Medicare, the “STAR” real estate rebates, the “HEAP” assistance with utility bills, and other programs for seniors, as far as we can tell now, remain solid.

And, seniors will still get a $63 raise in their Social Security benefits starting in January.

We have received so many responses to our coverage of neighborhood senior centers, that we offer here the particular characteristics of each center.

Are you confused about your medical coverage?
Do you know what is covered and what is not?
Do you know what Medicare Part A, B, and D are all about?

I hope this will help:

Medicare is the Medical component for seniors and disabled who get Social Security.

Part A covers hospital, and nursing care. Part B covers doctor visits, glasses, eye care, hearing care, out-patient care, medical tests, and medical supplies.

Part D, a recent addition to Medicare, covers prescription drugs, but most seniors find that they still need supplemental insurance to cover all their medicine.

There’s a common misconception about elder abuse. Many think it’s mainly a problem of home-health aides hitting or neglecting their clients.

In actuality, such incidents are very rare. If a senior is abused, it’s more likely to be at the hands of the elder’s family – the grown children or the spouse, who may try to shift the blame to the home aide – or in nursing homes. Also, the accountant or lawyer handling the senior’s money may siphon off funds.

Very often, the senior is too ashamed, or frightened, to tell anyone, or just thinks no one can help.

By “Sadie”
As told to Gisele Strauch

Well, today is the day for me. I am finally at the age when I am eligible to attend as a full-privileged member of a senior center, right here in my neighborhood. But am I really ready for this, do I really want to go there today?

After much pondering, and prodding by my friends and family, I am indeed ready to go! I am entering the dining room of the center, and I am asked for my I.D., and given a table number and a container of milk, after I sign my name on the lunch sign-up sheet.